How does Absalom's death foreshadow Christ?

1. The 3 darts to the heart and the 3 nails of the cross
2. Jesus also road upon a mule on his way to being hung on a tree
3. crown of thorns are similar to Absalom's hair being caught in the tree branches
4. Absalom was without blemish as the Lamb of God was without blemish
5. Absalom was a firstborn as Jesus was a Firstborn
6. Absalom, like Jesus, spoke gently to the people as opposed to the harshness of the pharisees

How does Absalom's death foreshadow Jesus' death? I was simply intrigued with the point when Joab pierced him/ Absalom in the heart with 3 spears it made me wonder. Why not one or two? I was connecting the point of "3". Three meaning completeness. In 2 Sam. 18:14. in the story we see Joab making a statement before he stabbed him in the heart hanging from the tree. Can it be related to any of the three's 3's found in the bible? The trinity, the 3 temptations and the many others found in the bible. The number 3 is used 467 in the bible. We can pick and choose any to have a discussion. In essence, It may not have a significance to the theological thinkers of our day but I don't think anything in the bible is put there by accident or for no apparent reason. I think it could be a good teaching point that we can learn from thus we can add it to our many life's lessons. Jesus died for the rebellious just like Absalom.

There is no Church Father in the entirety of the Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers - from what I can find - that sees Absolom's death as prefiguring Christ's in any way. A 5th century Roman statesman and historian named Cassiodorus wrote a commentary on the Psalms and thought that Absolom prefigured Judas, not Jesus:

When Absalom was cruelly attacking his father David, the speed of his mule caused him to collide with a thick oak tree, and the branches wound round his neck so that he was suspended high in the air. This was a prefiguration of the Lord’s betrayer. Just as Judas ended his life in the knot of a noose, so also David’s persecutor breathed his last through the pressure on his throat.

Exposition on the Psalms, III.1

Looking at this in broader context, the Christological implications are fascinating.

Absalom was David's son. Guess who else was the "Son of David?" Christ. After Absalom's death, Israel was restored to order. His death brought about peace for Israel, just like Christ's death brings peace (in heaven) to God's people.

Absalom died on a tree. So did Christ. Absalom was finished off by a spear. So was Christ.

I think this is a sort of reverse metaphor, though. (I'm sure there's better terminology for that.) Unlike Christ, Absalom was a prideful, arrogant, sinful, rebellious jerk. Christ was a humble servant. Absalom undermined his father, Christ went along with his Father's plan despite the pain he knew he'd have to endure. Absalom was fleeing the battle, Jesus humbly and willingly approached his death.

As to David's role, the opening verses of 2 Samuel 9 are quite interesting. Joab rebukes David in verse 6, saying

for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.

David wished he could sacrifice his innocent people for his sinful son. Remind you of anything? God sacrificed his innocent Son for his sinful people!

We say the Old Testament points to Christ alot, and I think it does. However, often it's by reverse metaphor. David portrayed God the Father here, but he did a pretty crappy job. Absalom portrayed Christ, but he screwed up too.

Thankfully, God's plans are a lot better and the reality is greater than the promise.

It's not so much that he foreshadows Christ, but rather Absalom is a type of Satan. Just as Absalom had no blemish from head to toe and was handsome and even the hair of his head was of great value, which caused vanity in him, so to was the devil at one time perfect in all his ways, but he rebelled against the LORD just like Absalom rebelled against David. The tree he got caught up in represents the Cross of Christ, for Christ was hung on a "tree"! Just as Absalom existence was ended via his hair getting entangled in a tree, The devil in the end of his rebellion against God almighty will be completely destroyed through his vanity by the sacrifice of God's Son on the cross! These stories hold spiritual truths we cannot see unless we understand their application through God's spirit. And furthermore, Paul upholds looking for these types and foreshadowing in his teachings as well.

The amazing connection of Messiah with the story of Av Shalom is the fact that David the one called a man after Gods own heart, cried saying my son my son Av Shalom, would God I had died for you!!! Messiah as the "Son of David" did what David said he wished he could do for his rebelious son Av Shalom. Av Shalom means father of Peace, and Messiah is the true Father of Peace!!!

Absolom is not so much a type of Christ as he is a type of sin in that he represents the sin that Christ became for us while His Father turned His back on Him as He hung on the cross. Sin entered the world through subtlety, overthrew Gods rule and enslaved His people. In order to defeat this enemy God came up with a plan to destroy sin and it's literally infinite consequences by attributing sin to His equally infinite son who is also God, Jesus. The point where Jesus was lifted up on the cross and God the Father turned His back on His son was what Absolom was a type of. The sin that Christ became in order to free Gods people and restore His throne. The heart of David shows the heart of God the Father wishing He could take the place of His own son Jesus as He turns His back on the sin He is attributing to Him on the cross. Hope that makes sense.